Snow-excavator for railroads



(N Model.)

W. CHOATE.

SNOW BXGAVATOR POR RAILBOADS.

No. 249,586.` Patented Nov. 15,1881.Y

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aside elevation of the machine.

T y 'UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WAYNEv GHOATE, oF eLENwooD, iowA.

SNOW-EX'CAVATOR FOR RAI LROADS.

S1EGIIFICJA'IION1forming*partof Letters Patent No. 249,586, dated November 15, 1881.

Application iledAugustM, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WAYNE CHoAfrE, of Glenwood, in the county of Mills and VState of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Snow- Excavator for Railroads, of which the following is a' specification. The object of my invention is to furnish a machine by which cuts` on railroads can be cleared of snow rapidly and Without the labor of shoveling.

The inventiouconsists, essentially, in oscillating boxes and movable end-gates, by which the snow is rst gathered and then dumped, as more particularly described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is Fig. 2 is a plan view` of the same, and Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line .fr w of Fig. 1, with one box in position for dumping its load. Fig. 4 is a detail drawing, showing a transverse section of gate() and keepers k, taken through the line :v a: of Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a lat car, of usual construction, on one end of which the excavating mechanism is sustained, as next described.

An open frame composed of rods a a is sustained at the front of the car by hangers b and posts o, that are sitably braced. The lower rods are close to the rails, while the upper rods are elevated sufficiently to give space` for the `operation of the boxes.

To the forward endsof rods c are attached cutters d, consisting of strips of metal connected to form a rectangular frame,'and having their forward edges sharpened.

B B are the boxes, preferably made of metal plates, and hung'by loops con rods a, that are connected rigidly to the hangers b and the lower cutters. The boxes are sustained by rods a and braces g, and turn on the rods. The boxes are open at the forward ends, top, and outer sides, and the two, side by side, extend the width of the cut to be made. On the car is a frame, h, sustaining levers it in swivel or analogous bearings, that are connected by links i t' to the boxes B, so that by operation ofthe levers theboxes can be raised and turned outward, as shown in Fig. 3. The loops e, by

which the boxes are hung, are placed near lthe open outer side of the boxes, so that the load shall be dumped clear of the track.

C is the end-gate, fitted to slide vertically at the forward ends of boxes B in guides 7c attached to cutters d. The lower end of the gate is serrated, as shown, that it may be more easily forced down into the snow.- The gate C is attached to the outer end of a lever, l, that is sustained by a rocking fulcrum, m, on the car, and a loop, n, is provided on the car for connection to the inner end of the lever, so as to sustain the gatein the elevated position.`

In the operation of the excavator the car is to be moved by a locomotive. The end-gate C is rst raised, and the car being then moved forward the boxes are forced'into the snow their full length. The cutters d, actin g in front of the boxes, facilitate the operation and relieve the boxes of the pressure. The end-gate G is then to be forced down to close the ends of the boxes. The car is then run back to a convenient placefordumpin g, and theload dumped can be utilized as a plow. For this purpose l provide the movable mold-boards r r, to be ap- .plied as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, from the center cutter, d, to the rear outside edges of boxes B.

In the use of` the excavator suitable places for dumping the snow will generally be found near the cuts. Most roads approach cuts on embankments, and the wind that lls the cuts with snow clears the embankments, so that the excavator can be readily emptied at the embankments.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to construct snow-excavators with knives for cutting the snow, and tilting boxes for receiving and emptying the same. I do not therefore claim, broadly, thesefeatures but What I do claim isl 3. The combination of the oscillating boxes l. The boxes B,tted for oscillation ou their B, levers i', and oar A, substantially as shown ro supports, and the sliding eud-gate U,oombined and described, for operation as set forth. V together and with the our A substantially as 5 shown and described. WAYNE GHOATE' 2. The sliding" end-gate G and lever Z, in Witnesses: combination with the boxes B, substantially M. H. BYERS, as andfor the purposes set forth. E. C. BYERS. 

